Flying machine



June 16, 1931. R, M SMYTH 1,810,114

FLYING MACHINE l Filed Feb. 24, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l n,

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IILIIII IIIIIII Illllll IIIIIIT ATTORNEY June 16, 1931. R M. SMYTH1,810,114v

FLYING MACHINE l Filed Feb. 24, 1928 2 sheets-sheet 2 wrrNEss: A'rTonNEYI Patented June 16, 1931 usarse silarss nenn-ree iii. siiiffrii, or sanJosu,` cosirA RICA y FLYING iiieoiiiiiiii"A ap'piicaiien meri Februaryeaieaaf seriai No. 256,735.

This invention relates to affilying machine, the general object of theinvention beingto provide a body or diaphragm formed of inner and outermembers and radiallyv` arranged flexible members connecting the innerand outer members together, with flaps forming valves connected to theAradial members and means for vibrating the inner member to producevertical waves in the radial members to cause the valves to open on theupward movement of the radial members and to close on the downwardmovement thereof so as to produce air currents which will act to liftthe body and the flying machine to which the body is attached.

'1 force on this part of the body so as to provide means for stabilizingthe device and changing its direction of movement.

Another object of the invention is to ai'- range some of the radialmembers in sets, the members of each set being connected togethertransversely so as to provide control segments iii the body ordiaphragm, with means for lowering any desired set or a number of setsto form radial apertures in the diaphragm which will reduce the lifting`force on that side of the diaphragm to sOmeeXtent, to provideadditional means for stabilizing the device and changing its directionof movement. If the engine should fail tofunction or the craft shouldbegin to descend for any reason, the diaphragm would act as a parachuteas the valves would close under the'pressure of the air and in thisevent the craft could be vguided in its descent bythe control segments,'for by lowering certain of these segments, apertures would be formedforthe escape of air throughcertain parts of the body. rlhis will reducethe kpressure of the air von this part of the body so that the body willtilt downwardly onthe side where .the pres-l Figure 10. v

sure is reduced so that the craft can be bilized and guided in itsdownward movement. A

A further object of the invention is to prolvide means for shifting thecenter of gravity 'of the device, which also acts as means forstabilizing the device and changing its direction of movement.

VThis invention( alsoconsists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to

be hereinafter fully described,r illustrated in thel accompanyingdrawings and specifical# ly pointedk out iii the appended claims.

In describing invention, in detail, reference will be hadto theaccompanying drawings wliereinlike characters denote like orcorresponding parts'throughout the several views, and in which v:-

Figure 1 is a face view of asolid surface used to explain the theory ofthe invention.

Figure 2 is an edge viewof Figure 1. Figures 3, 4f andl 5 arediagrammatic views `usedfto explain the operation of the valves. Figure6 is a View showing the position of the wires or radial members when atrest.

Figure 7 is a view showing the wave formation-0f the wires when thedevice isin operation. y Figure 8'is cplinplete Adevice associated witha flying mac ine.

the reciprocatory movement of the center member and also showing how asection coin- :posed' of a number yof the wires can be held againstmovement, V c

section on Yline 11-11 of Figure 11 is a Figure 12 is a detail viewshowing the means i'or transmitting theV movement of the crankshaft ofthe inotorto the rod which the inner 'member of the a sectional viewshowingthe valves in open position in full lines and in closed positionin dotted lines.

Figure 15 is a similar view but showing double valves connected with theradial members.

Figure 16 is a fragmentary perspective View of Figure 15.

Figure 17 is a plan view showing the diaphragm divided into three parts,with means for vibrating the radial members of each part.

Figure 18 is a detail view showing a modi fied form of means forreciprocating the rod which is connected with the central member.

Figure 19 is a section on line 19-19 of Figure 18.

lf I apply an oscillatory motion -to a solid surface such as that shownin Figs. 1 and 2 (frontand side view respectively) in a direction normal.to its plane, said motion Will be transmitted to the adjacent layers ofair which thus will move in unison with the surface.

If the surface instead of being solid throughout its whole area, isprovided with as many valves as is possible to construct on same, as,shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, the valves will close when the surfacemoves in one direction (down, as in Figure 5), and will .open whenmoving in the opposite direction (up, as in Figure 4l). This is causedboth by the inertia of the valves themselves and by the reaction of theadjacent layers of air which are being forced to move by the motion ofthe surface.

The result of this action of the valves is that the air will be pushedand will move with thek surface when the valves are closed, While whenthe surface reverses its motion,

the valves will open and the air will pass through them more or lessfreely andy will thus continue its motion in the direction in which itwas pushed when the valves were closed. In other words, an air currentof more or less variable speed will be produced, the air lreceiving animpulse each time the surface moves with the valves closed. Thealternating motions which are imparted to the air when the surface is asolid one, are nectified by the valves and a unidirectional air ,currentresults, wherefore, I call them rectifying valves, and in general, anymeans capable of accomplishing the same results, rectifying means. Ifthe frequency of the oscillations is sufficiently high, the resultantair current will have an almost constant speed.

It will be obvious that to set the air in motion and produce the abovementioned air current, it is necessary to overcome the inertia of theair, and consequently an intermittent vreaction upon the surface willresult in a direction opposite to that of the air current. This isaresult which would be obtained with any other kind of air impeller,whatever its Vlarge and strong form, such as an ordinary propeller,centrifugal blower, etc.

If I make the valved surface of suflicient size and the frequency andamplitude of the vibrations of sufficient magnitude, such a device couldbe utilized as a vertically rising flying machine, provided, of course,that the sur-face be placed in a horizontal position (as in Figure 8) sothat the air current be directed downwards. Such a craft would be `afiying machine of the flapping wing type.

To construct a valved surface sufficiently for flying purposes wouldrequire amore or less heavy structure and it will be apparent that tovibrate such a struc ture at more than a very moderate frequency wouldbe almost impracticable; and it must be taken into consideration thatthe frequency and amplitude `should. be somewhat high if it is desiredto obtain a reaction of sufficient magnitude for practical purposes. fIn orderto solve this difhculty, I have devised a special diaphragmprovided with valves which can be made to vibrate without vibrating theframe on which it is mounted.

ts mode of operation is as follows:

f a wire is suspended between two points (Figurel G) and one of its endsis given a rapid to and fro motion in any direction normal to the wire(Figure 7), the motions will be propagated along the wires in the formof transverse waves in a well known manner until they reach the otherend of the wire where they will be reflected backwards, forming standingwaves (as shown by the dotted lines in Figure 7), and after reachingagain the starting end will be reflected anew and so forth until theenergy of the waves has been dissipated. Y If the frequency of thevibrations and consequently the length of the waves i-s properly related-to the length of the wire, a state of resonance can be created by whichthe strength of the vibrations will acquire a much higher value.

If instead of a single wire, a set of radia-l wires is arranged, asshown in Figure 9, all of them fixed to a common center 5 and to acommon annular frame 3, and the center 5 is given a vibratory motion ina direction nor Vmal to the plane formed by the whole set of wires, thevvibrations will be propagated radially along the wires as in the caseof the single wire. The system will in fact constitute a vibratingdiaphragm. The speed of propagation ofthe waves along the wires willdepend on the working tension of the wires and on their distributedmass. The Vworking tension of the wires depends on the slack allowed tothem when at rest, on the frequency of the vibrations and on theirVamplitude. Due to these facts, 4,the resultant speed of propagation issuch that when the vibrating system-is in resonance with a givenfrequency, it will be in resonance with any other frequency, providedthe slack of the wires construction as shown in Figures 14, 15 and 16.The wires 1 are the radial wires which constitute. the vibratingvdiaphragm, andthe valves 8 are made of thin and light material, such Vasrubberized fabric (preferably silk),

`plain silk, thin metal or any other suitable material, in the form ofnarrow strips placed crosswise to they wires or in any other convenientform and fastened to the latter either along the middle portion of thestrips, as shown in Figures 15 and'16, or along one of their edges asshown in Figure 14.

It is clear that such a vibrating diaphragm provided with valves will bethe equivalent of the vibrating surface previously described and shownin Figures 3, 4 and 5. t is true that the surface is not made to vibrateall at a time, but in av progressive manner as a result of the wavemotion imparted to the radial wires or vibrating diaphragmand thusiticannot properly be considered as a flapping wing, but as everyportion of the diaphragm makes a complete vibration for every passingvwave, the results will be practically kthe same, both in form andmagnitude, viz

the production of a` current of air and its consequent reaction.

Valves of the type shown in Figures 14, 15l and 16 are exceedingly lightand will not add any appreciable weightvto the vibrating diaphragm.However, even if some extra mass beadded, provided the same to beproperly distributed, asis the case with the valves, would notl affectthe general operation of the device, since the whole set Vof wires is avibrating system and the added distributed mass would only affect thespeed at which the'waves propagate along the wires orithe resultantworking tensionof said wires. ln fact vthe vibrating system should havesuliicient mass to bey capable of transmitting the necessary energy tothe periphery ends of the radial wires in the nearabouts of whichobviously most of the valves are located and where consequently most ofthe energy isl spent. Butsince the valves are so light, practically thewhole mass will be represented by the wires.

The diaphragm maybe divided into seg- -ments separated from each otherpreferably by a very small distance. Each segment may thus be consideredas an independent unit,

but since all vibrate simultaneously, no separation will result and thewhole diaphragm will function as a single unit during normal operation.The purpose of this subdivision of the diaphragm will be explainedlater.

Since the vibrating or wave energy of the Wires is being progressivelyspent throughout their whole length by the reaction of the air which isbeing set in motion, only a small portion of the-waves will reach to.and be reflected at the periphery ends of the wires, and for thisreason it isnot essential that the frequency of the vibra-tionsbeinvresonance with the system. Y v

rlhe power source may be any ordinary aviation motor (preferably a highspeed type) mounted in any suitable manner inthe middle of the diaphragmor` in any other convenient place. Theframe o-n which the motor ismounted as well asthe compartment which must be provided for the pilotshould in turn be supported preferably on the an-l nular framesurrounding the diaphragm. The illustrations show the pilot, motor,etc., all housed within the hull 2. 1

4One of they numerous v'forms that can be given to a flying machine ofthis kindand various details of its `construction are illustrated inFigures 8, `9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The engine 4 is mounted within thehull 2. rllhe crank shaft 9 vis providedwith a crank 7 which isconnected with the diaphragm at its center 5 by means of the lever 33'and the connecting rod 6; 5 is thevibrating center plate from which allthe wires forming the diaphragm radiate; the-radial wires 1 aresupported by the common center 5 andthe annular periphery frame 8. Asshown, these wires are not stretched between the parts and 5, but havesufficient slack to produce waves when they are vibrated through thevibrations of the part 5. The valves 8 are constructed in concentriccircles around the lcenter 5L `The propeller 13 iscoupled,

26 indicates a bearing supporting the shaft i 27. 8O indicates agasoline tank.

The engine 4 is mounted on the base 44. This base is supported on thehull through vthe means. of springs 45 in order to absorb any vibrationsof the engine which otherwise would be transmitted to the hull. Y

49 rand 49 indicate the wires whichy actuate the elevator and rudderrespectively. The wires (not shown), which vactuate vthe ailerons 21 runfirst within the. hull in the rear part of which they turn upwardsalongside the supporting rods10'and then run horizontally either insideor alongside the tubular frame 3 of the diaphragm.

vThe hull 2 is suspended by its two extreme ends from the annularperipheral frame 3 tion and serve'to support the machine on the floorand 7 whenl landing. The protective frames for'the ailerons are'indicatedat`29- Figure 12 shows a device for regulating lof thevdiaphragm by means of rodsilO -hinged Y -at 11 and12 by universaljointsf 28 indicates four skates capable of turning ,in any direc- ,theamplitude and consequently the strength 339 ,of the vibrations of thewhole diaphragm. This is `accomplished by shifting the member 31 to theright `or left .of r.the gu're by means of rod l39 which is actuated byhand lever 40, (Figure 8). Member 31 is provided with a specialuniversal bearing 32 which permits the transmission member 33 tooscillate in .any direction with the bearings 32 as a fulcrum, allowingat the same time the member 31 to be shifted from one side to the other,.thus changing the amplitude of movement of the end 36. The numeral 38indicates a guide rail along which the member 31 slides and 35 indicatesspherical bearings at the end 0f the crank 7 and connecting rod 6,respectively.

Instead of the crank 7 to produce'the vibrations from the rotary motionof the engine, it would be possible to produce them by a rotatingeccentric weight, as shown in Figure 18 in which 49X is the `eccentricweight slidably fixed on an extension of the shaft 51. This extension isin turn slidable on shaft 51, which is coupled to the engine 4 b v theuniversal coupling 52. Both the weight 49 and the extension 50 arerigidly fixed in any chosen position by means of screws 54 and 55respectively. The resultant vibrations are transmitted t0 the connectingrod 6 by means of the spherical bearing 53 similar to the sphericalbearing 35 previously referred to. Their strength and amplitude isregulated by varying the relative position of either the weight 49 orthe extension 50. The advantage of this system of producing thevibrations is that theengine will be kept practically free fromvibrating. The particular form which has been illustrated has beenselected just for simplicity, but it will be clear that there are manyother forms which may be utilized with the same results;

When the engine is running, the connecting rod 6 will make a rapid upand down motion whichwill be communicated to the center 5, and hence tothe radial wires 1 forming the diaphragm where the vibrations will bepropagated in the form of waves. as described.

Cables 56 connect the hull with the member 3 so as to prevent the valveframe from falling over when the aeroplane is at rest upon the ground.

The propulsion in a horizontal direction may be obtained by simplytilting the machine, wherefrom a horizontal component will result thatwill propel the craft in the desired direction. In other words, it willglide its way forwardly, but without losing altitude since its liftingforce constantly compensates for the downward component resulting fromthe gliding of the machine. Obviously, the power should be increasedwhen moving horizontally since by tilting the machine, the vertical orlifting component is somewhat reduced and must be .compensated by anincrease in power. Whenever it should prove desirable, any other .knownpropulsion system may be utilized. Figure 8 shows the device equippedwith an ordinary propeller 13, coupled through clutch 25, directly tothe same engine that drives the vibrating system. The clutch 25 isoperated by hand lever 41 'through rod 42.

which would obviously'bring the craft to an even keel.

.This regulation of the strength of the vibrations in different portionsof the diaphragm (which hereinafter will be called vibratory control)can be accomplished in several ways. @ne of the simplest is, perhaps, toeither partiallyv or totally prevent the wires radiating towards theraised side of the craft from vibrating. T his can easily be done byattaching at some distance from the center, one or more wires (whichhereinafter will be called controlling wires) to each portion of thediaphragm whose vibrations it is desired to regulate, and connecting theother ends of said wires to a common central control lever at a pointsomewhat lower than the diaphragm, as shown in Figures 8, 9 and 10, andin which 14 indicates the controlling wires and 15 the central controllever. Under normal conditions, the controlling wires should hang looseso that they would permit the diaphragm to vibrate freely, but if it isdesired to diminish the intensity of the vibrations of, say the lefthand portions ofthe diaphragm, the control lever is pushed to the rightso as to tighten the left hand controlling wire (see Figure 10), thusprevent-ing the portion of the diaphragm to which said wire is attachedfrom vibrating freely, which obviously will decrease the strength of itsvibrations. If the lever is pushed with sufficient force, the vibrationsof the aifected portion of the diaphragm may be entirely stopped.

ln order to control the vibrations not only of a single radial wire, butof a whole section of wires, there is provided a cross bar 16 (Figure 9)corresponding to each controlling wire'which rigidly connects the wholeset of radial wires together, permitting their free vibration as awhole, but not toy move independently of each other. The controllingwires are directly connected to the cross bars themselves, thus makingeach controlling wire to act on a whole set of radial wires. There canbe as manycontrollingwires'as desired, and all of them connected to acommon control lever. Of course, notless than three should be providedifvit is desired to control the stability of the craft in alldirections.

It is convenient to point out that in case the diaphragm is vibratingatl any of its resonance frequencies, the above described controllingsystem will become much morefsensitive because when the controlling wireof a certain portion of the diaphragm is tightened it willmake thestrength of the vibrations to decrease not merely bykits direct forcedaction, but also by throwing said portion ofthe diaphragm more orlessout of resonance, due to the'fact lthat theftension of the vibratingwires, as well as their distributed mass are,

varied, and, as I have previously stated, the speed of propagation ofthe waves along the diaphragm radial wires, and consequently theirresonance frequencies, is a function ofv their tension as well 'as oftheir distributed mass. There aremany otherarrangements 'by which thisvibratory control (either the direct forced vibratory control or'theresonance, control) may beaccomplished, but I4 will not describe them asthey all work on the same general lines of the one that has beendescribed.

When the machine is moving 'in a horizontal direction, it is possible tosecure its stability and general control by the ordinary means used inairplanes, viz:-an elevator.

plane 2O (Figure 8) or the like for the longitudinal stability, ailerons21 or the` like for the lateral stability, and a rudder 22k forcontrolling its direction. A stabilizer plane 23 and fin 24 are alsoprovided. It is obvious,

of course, that the method of regulating the strength of the vibrationsis equally effective whether the craftk is stationary or in motion.VA

Another method (which hereinafter will be called gravity control) forstabilizing the machine, is by shifting its center of gravity to oneside or the other according to the inclination assumed by the machine'or which it is desired to give same. This method is of specialimportance when the engine fails and it is 'desired Vto make a vertical'de-A scent, although it can be used advantageously during anormalflight. A simple way of accomplishing this gravity control is shown inFigure 8.' The hull 2 wherey the engine, pilot'compartme-nt, etc., arelocated, is suspended'by itstwo extreme ends from the an nularperipheral frame of the diaphragm by*y means of rods 10, hinged at 11and 12 .by universal joints. The loperation lof shifting the center ofgravity is performed by means kof 4theisame control lever lfpreviouslyreferred to.: In pushing said lever to any side, the pilot istakingsupport upon the hull and since the upper end of the lever is connectedto the diaphragm wires through the c011- trolling wires 14:, said upperend of the` lever Y will thus have a fixedl supporting point and `as aresult the hull willswingvin the oppol site direction of that in whichthe lever is l pushed. Obviously, the center of gravityof the wholesystem is also shifted lin the same direction and the heavier side ofthe maf` chine will descend. It will benoticed that the control lever 15`actuates simultaneously the gravity control and the vibration control,

vas well as the elevator or the ailerons, only that the vibrationcontrol as well as the ele-f vatorv or the ailerons begin to beeffective.l

aftera comparatively-small movement of the controllever and require butaslight effort onthe part of the pilot, while to produce a' stabilizingforce of equal magnitude with the gravity control, the movement of thelever must be continued still further by pushing it witha force whichwill dependon the distance `to which thel center of gravity is shifted,but since the three systems o fcontrol can work simultaneously withoutinterfer-y ing with each other, it is convenient to actu-. ate themby'imeans of the same lever,

, The rudder may beoperated by means of the hand steering wheel 17;iixedat any con@ venient height on the control lever 15, or by means of thefoot lever (not shown) fixedcrosswise near the lower end of thecontrollever, which control lever is fixed to the bottom of the hull bymeans of the spherical' bearing 19=which permits the controllever toswing in any direction. v

Ink the case of the diaphragm being dividedv into segments, it will beapparent that those segmentswhich' are connected to the control i leverthrough the controlling Wires or rods (which hereinafter will be calledcontrollingk segments) will be pulled down to a certain extent and willthus be separated from those which'are not connected to the controllever Y when their width is not large compared to the;

distance to which they are pulled apart from the intermediary segmentsthat is, in rela-` tionto the size of ythefresultant apertures.

The machine shown in Figures 8 and 9 is provided with four controllingsegments 48. This controlling action (which I call aper- ,turecontrol)produced by creating apertures in the diaphragm, is of specialimportance when it is desired to make adescent,

Within the practical limits of thei invention,

particularly arvertical one, with the engine stopped, Whether because offailure or for any other special reason, since it is very effective and'reliable and requires relatively little effort on the part of thepilot. It is, ofv

(This multiplicityv of vibrating centers is especially convenient forlarge flying machinesas itV will eliminate the necessityof very heavydiaphragme capable of transmitting the greater power required at thenecessarily greater distances involved, and at the same time providingincreased safety if a plurality of'power sources is made u-se of. Figure17 shows a diaphragm provided with three vibrating centers 5A. 3findicates the annular frame of the diaphragm; 45, 46y and 47 indi.- cateWires or metal stripsto which the ends of the` vibrating Wires radiatingfrom centers 5 are fastened. It will be apparentthat if the power sourceof any of thevibrating centers is not working, the vibrations. of theWires corresponding to the other vibrating centers will be communicatedto thosey of the nonvibrating center,v even if with a diminishedintensity.

Respecting the power requiredr by a flying machine of this kind, itwill: be noticed that` there areI only relatively small lossesintheoperation ofthe device.- The main losses arev theseresu-lting fromthe functioning of the'.

valves themselves and arise While they are moving upwardswhen theyshould oppose no,y resistance to the air currentpassing through them,and, as is obvious, this resistance cannot' be entirely eliminated. Fromactual expertinents made, I have roughly estimated that itl is possibleto reduce said: resistance to perhaps much less than 20%- of the totalusefnl reaction.

The losses arisingV from they vibrating system are almostk negligible ifproperly con'- struetedf. This is a result of the fact thatY everymovement. oil the system taires place in a gradual. manner and in anentirely natural sequence, there never occurring vwhat we might callvforced movements: of any hind'. The air itself is accelerated in anequally-- gradi1al=-way so'. that eddies are practically eliminated andia current: of of almost constant speed is obtained.

The load factor of theimachine, may be varied Within Wise limits, butfor the salref ofsafety, it is. very convenient, and entirely not toexceed the load factors used in ordinary parachutes, as in this Way theWhole machine may come down gently in the event ofy engine failure orWhenever it is desired to descend vertically With the engine dead.

The general advantages of this kind of flying machine, in addition tothe main advantage of being capable to rise vertically, may besummarized as follows z-simplicity of construction and operation, greatmaneuverability, light Weight, great translational ability since themain portion of the device is practicallyl flat Which permits themachine to attain high speeds, possibility of producing large liftingforces with relatively small powers, and great safety in flight since itbecomes a ready open parachute as soon as the engine fails.V

l. In a fluid impeller, a body, means to im-A part a vibratory motion toparts of the body,

means to transmit said vibrations to other parts of the body in. theforni of Waves, means to communicate the motionsy of the body to. the,surroundingfluid to produce aunidirectional current ofv fluid, means' toregulate the strength of the vibrationsonthe Whole body, and means forredu-cingthe vibratory` motions ofV certains parts of the; body.

2. ln a fluid impeller, a body, means to impart a vibratory motion toparts of the body, means to communicateV said motions to thesurrounding'fluid; to produce a unidirectional curren-t-of fluid, meansfor moving certain portions of the vibratory parts of the body away fromother of saidpartsto form apertures in the body, and to reducethevibratory motions of theportions Which are so moved.

3. In a flying machine, a body, inner and outer supporting members,radially arranged flexible members connecting the supporting memberstogether, valves carried bythe flexible members and means for vibratingvone of the supporting members to vibrate the flex.- ible members to openandV close the valves.

4. In a flying machine, a body, inner and outer supporting members,radially arranged flexible members connecting the supportingmembers'togethemvalves-carried by the flexible1 members,.means forvibrating one of thesupporting members, tol vibrate the flexiblemembers, causing thevalvesto open and close to produce a unidirectionalcurrent of air, and means for moving;l certain sets of the.fleniblemembers away from the adjacent flex-y ibleJ members to formaperturesin the body an'drtoreduce the vibratory motions of the setsofziiexible members-.- Which are so moved.

5., In, ai flying machine, a body, inner and outer supporting; members,radially arranged flexible members connecting the su-pportingmemberstogether, val-ves carried by the flexiblemembers, means forVibrating oneof the supportingv members to vibrate the flexible:

members, causing the valves to open and close to produce aunidirectional current of air, means for moving certain sets of theflexible members away from the adjacent flexible members to formaperturesrin the body and to reduce the vibratory motions ofthe sets offlexible members which are so moved, and means for regulating thestrength of' the vibrations imparted to the supporting member.

6. In a flying machine, body, inner and outer supporting members, rdially arranged flexible members connecting the supporting memberstogether, valves carried by the flexible members, means for vibratingone of the support-ing members to vibrate the flexible members, causingthe valves to open and close to produce a unidirectional current of air,means for moving certain sets of the flexible members away from theadjacent flexible members to form apertures in the body and to reducethe vibratory motions of the sets of flexible members which are somoved, means for regulating the strength of the vibrations imparted tothe supporting member, and means for changing the center ofiy gravity ofthe body.

7. In a flying machine, a bony composed of o inner and outer members,radially arranged flexible members connected with the supportingmembers, valves carried by the radial members, means for vibrating theinner member to produce waves in the radial members causing the valvesto open and close, to prof duce a unidirectional current of air, some ofthe radial members being arranged in sets to form controlling segments,means for lowering any desired controlling segment or seg ments toreduce the vibratory motions thereof and to form apertures in the body,means for movably connecting the body with the fuselage of the flyingmachine and means for changing the center' of gravity of the body withrespect to the fuselage.

8. In a flying machine, a body, means to impart a vibratory motion toparts of the body, means to transmit said vibrations to other parts ofthe body in the form of waves, means to communicate the motions ofthebody to the surrounding fluid to produce a unidirectional current offluid, means for moving certain portions of the vibratory parts of thebody away from'other of said parts to form apertures in the body and toreduce the vibratory motions of the portions which are so moved.

9. In a flying machine, a body, substantially inelastic pliable membersmounted on said body, means for producing waves in said pliable membersand means for communicating the motions of the pliable members to thesurrounding air. y

10. In a flying machine, a body, substantially inelastic pliable membersmounted on said body, means for producing waves in said pliable membersand valve means carried by the pliable members openedV and closed by thewave motions thereof to produce a unidirectional current of air.

11. In a fluid impeller, a body, substantially inelastic pliable membersmounted on said body, means to impart a vibratory motion to parts ofsaid pliable members, means to transmit said vibrations to other partsof the pliable members in the Iform of waves and means to communicatethe motions of the pliable members to the surrounding fluid to produce aunidirectional current of fluid.

12., In a fluid impeller, a body, pliable members mounted on saidk body,means to impart a vibratory motion to parts of the pliable members,means to transmit said vibrations to other parts of thepliable membersin the form of waves, means to communicate the motions of the pliablemembers to the surrounding fluid to produce a unidirectional current offluid and means to regulate the strength of the vibrations.

13. In a flying machine, a body, pliable members mounted on said body,means to impart a vibratory motion to partsof the pliable members, meansto transmit said vibrations'to other parts of the pliable members in theform of waves, means to communicate the motions of the pliable membersto the surrounding air to produce a unidirectional` current of air andmeans for moving certain portions of the vibratory parts of the pli-`able members away from other of said parts to form apertures in thebody. f

14. In a fluid impeller, a body, substantially inelastic pliablemembersmounted on said body, valves carried by the pliable members and meansfor vibrating parts of said pliable members to produce wave motions inthem to transmit the vibrations to other parts of the pliable members,causing the valves to open and close to produce a unidirectional currentof fluid.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

RODRIGO SMYTH.

J .fili

